Gary Hogeboom

Gary Keith Hogeboom (born August 21, 1958 in Grand Haven, Michigan) is a former American football quarterback in the NFL and a former contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala.

Hogeboom reached the spotlight playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Cardinals, and Washington Redskins after playing college football at the Central Michigan University and high school football at Northview High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He played for ten seasons (1980-1989) and passed for 9,346 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions in his career, along with 164 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground. He also had career highs in 1989 with the Phoenix Cardinals with 2,591 yards passing, 14 TDs, and 19 INTs. His only appearance in the postseason was in the Cowboys' 1982 NFC title game against the Washington Redskins. Filling in for the injured Danny White, he threw for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions, in Dallas's 31-17 loss. In 1987, as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Hogeboom was one of the few regular players in the NFL who did not participate in that year's player strike. He took the field along with replacement players, who were recruited to continue the league's schedule during the strike. The Colts' victories in those games were crucial in securing their first playoff berth in ten years.

Dallas Cowboys

Hogeboom was drafted by the Cowboys in 1980 and, by 1982, had moved past Glenn Carano for the #2 quarterback spot behind Danny White. He began to garner attention from Cowboys fans and players alike with his performance in the 1982 NFC title game. With the score 24-17 in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were geared to start a drive to possibly tie the game when Hogeboom had a pass deflected at the line and intercepted by Darryl Grant, who returned it for the clinching touchdown. The Redskins had dominated the game up to that point, but Hogeboom's performance opened some eyes, including coach Tom Landry's.

Prior to the 1983 season, the Cowboy players and fans began to lobby for Hogeboom to be the starting quarterback. Danny White had led the team to three straight NFC title games after taking over for legend Roger Staubach, but couldn't get over the hump to a Super Bowl. Also, the players felt that White had betrayed them because of his public support for the NFL team owners during the 1982 NFL players strike. Furthermore, White was seen as quiet and standoffish, unlike the more vocal and personable Hogeboom. It also helped Hogeboom's cause being 6'4" and 200 pounds, bigger, and with a stronger arm than White.

White responded to the criticism by having his best statistical season ever in 1983 and leading the Cowboys to a 12-2 record going into a home matchup against the hated Redskins. However, the Cowboys were blown out 31-10 at home. The Redskins would go on to finish 14-2 and reach their second straight Super Bowl, while the Cowboys would be blown out 42-17 the next week by the San Francisco 49ers and lose the wildcard playoff game at home against the Los Angeles Rams. The rumblings for White to be benched got stronger as a result.

Landry responded by giving Hogeboom significantly more playing time in the 1984 pre-season and naming him his starter. Hogeboom started out well, throwing for 343 yards in a season opening win on Monday night on national TV against the Rams. However, in the next game against the New York Giants, linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacked him four times and the Cowboys lost, 28-7. Despite the Cowboys 4-1 record, Landry went back to the more experienced White and Hogeboom never started another game for the Cowboys.

Survivor: Guatemala

In 2005, Hogeboom was a contestant on the CBS reality TV show Survivor: Guatemala. Hogeboom kept his past a secret and even claimed his name was Gary Hawkins and was a landscaper, for fear of instant elimination. Another contestant (Danni) who worked in sports radio recognized him immediately, but he denied this many times. He was able to convince the other contestants on the show that he was telling the truth. Hogeboom was eliminated on day 30, after saving himself from elimination by using the hidden immunity idol at the previous tribal council; his elimination was unrelated to the issue of his true identity. After he was voted out, he confessed in his final words that his name was Gary Hogeboom and he was an ex-NFL quarterback.

Hogeboom is married with four children.

Survivor Firsts by Gary Hogeboom

• First Survivor to find the "Hidden Immunity Idol"
• First Survivor to use the "Hidden Immunity Idol"

External links

• Gary Hogeboom at IMDb
• Career NFL Stats